“It’s family over everything!” That’s what McLaughlin assistant football coach Tabor White Buffalo said Friday night after his squad won the 9B All Nations Football Conference championship.
The Mustangs defeated White River 28-8 in the game to win their first football title in program history.
For a lot of communities in South Dakota, supporting and following their local high school teams is everything. This is especially true in McLaughlin that has been craving a championship for a long time. The last championship McLaughlin won as a school was a boys state cross country championship in 2006.
During the television broadcast, announcer Jonathan Sam, who is from McLaughlin, put into words just how big of a moment this was for the Mustangs team.
“What it does for the community has been evident throughout the season. It brought people together,” Sam said. “These gentlemen on the field brought an entire community together and elevated them, lifted them to somewhere we’ve never been. These guys right here, right now, in this moment, they’re the best and they’ve proven it.”
McLaughlin quarterback John Eagle Jr had a massive performance in the showdown with White River. He threw for 152-yards and two touchdowns for the Mustangs. He also ran for a score and had an interception on the defensive side of the ball as well.
As a team leader, Eagle mentioned the importance of the team culture this season.
“We take care of each other and make sure our team is right and all that,” he told. “Family is everything to us. We worked so hard in the offseason for this and coming into this season.”
Tyler Bull Head caught three passes in the game for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Jacoby Carry Moccasin also contributed with 43-yards of rushing and a touchdown on the ground for McLaughlin. On the defensive side of the ball, Quentin White Mountain recorded two sacks and an interception for the Mustangs.
“As a coach, this is the best place you can be. I’m absolutely elated, very proud of all of our players,” said assistant coach Tabor White Buffalo. “They executed the game plan, and we did exactly what we talked about earlier, we were going to take advantage of our speed.”
White Buffalo continued to emphasize the importance of this win for the program, school, and community.
“Our team culture is really family orientated. Once you have selfless players playing for one another, biggest thing to take away is we’re stronger as one and that’s the biggest thing,” he exclaimed. “It’s family over everything.”
McLaughlin will graduate ten seniors this spring. But for those who will return in 2026, a foundation has been set – one that showcases the dedication and mindset it takes to win a championship.
